Operations Director

Who Should Apply: This opportunity is ideal for a hands-on leader who takes ownership of operations and is passionate about delivering high-quality, person-centered services. The Operations Director is someone who leads from the front—supporting staff, solving problems in real time, and ensuring individuals receive safe and meaningful care.

The ideal candidate has experience in human services, understands regulatory requirements such as COMAR, and can balance compliance with compassion. They are a strong communicator who builds and develops teams while maintaining accountability for performance, documentation, and budgets. This role is best suited for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and remains calm, confident, and solutions-focused under pressure.

About Unified Community Connections: Unified Community Connections is a leading provider of services and programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Maryland. We believe that all people living with disabilities have the right to be treated with respect and dignity as well as to exercise the same control over their lives as any other person.

We provide comprehensive, wrap-around services tailored to the unique needs of each person and family we support. Our programs are designed to assist individuals with disabilities in achieving the quality of life they seek. We promote self-determination, independence, productivity, integration and inclusion in all facets of life.

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

In a manner consistent with supporting Unified Community Connections’ Mission Statement, the Operations Director must:

• Ensure the assigned Individuals safety and well-being at all times by protecting them from harm, injury or other distress.
• Recruit, train, and supervise all administrative and professional staff in the designated service area.
• Assure that all programs are operated in accordance with the agency’s mission and from a person-centered perspective including recreation, personal enrichment, and involvement in the community.
• Maintain regular contact with service coordination, other stakeholders, and other potential referral sources in order to promote a positive view of Unified Community Connections as a preferred provider of services to people with disabilities.
• Assure that Residential Directors and Day Program Directors recruit, train, and supervise their staff efficiently and effectively.
• Provide and/or assure the timely provision of services in accordance with relevant COMAR regulations including development, implementation, and monitoring of Individual Plans (IP), plans of care, nursing plans of care, and other means of organizing and implementing the provision of services to program participants.
• Assure that all documentation necessary for effective service provision and program operation is completed on time.
• Assess training needs of staff and assure programs for staff development are conducted.
• Initiate and coordinate the process for admitting new program participants.
• Participate in budget preparation, development, and assure all programs operate within budget.
• Assure that all agency facilities are well maintained and provide safe and attractive environments for participants.
• Create and implement a schedule for monitoring/auditing each program in the relevant service area to assure compliance with all regulations, laws, and agency policy.
• Review each critical incident to determine reason for occurrence and methods of prevention.
• Ensure that the Chief Operating Officer is informed of all critical incidents, staff or staffing concerns and circumstances that may affect the program, its participants, staff, or the agency.
• Conduct regular staff meetings and training to promote good communication.
• Provide direct support as necessary which may include support at other sites or programs.
• Have a clear understanding of each individual’s medical needs, including a nursing plan of care and interim assessments, including established protocols for emergency situations for individuals served.
• Have a working knowledge (including documentation procedures) for each individual’s program plan including seizure records, desired outcomes, behavioral support plan, etc.
• Maintain knowledge of all relevant Unified policies and procedures. Perform other duties as assigned.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervises Residential Directors and Day Program Directors.

Qualifications: The specific requirements listed above represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to fulfill the responsibilities of this position. To successfully perform this job, the employee must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential task.

Education and/or Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a related field is required. A minimum of two years of supervisory experience and four years of experience in the field of disabilities is required. Experience must be concurrent. Must have a working knowledge of relevant COMAR regulations.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, including whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.

Language Skills: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions and written correspondence and interpret documents. Ability to write reports and complete forms or other documents as required. Ability to effectively communicate with others including individuals in Unified programs, family members, medical professionals, co-workers, and vendors both verbally and in written form.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Must possess a valid driver’s license with no more than 2 points and successfully pass a defensive driving course prior to driving. Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certification. Must possess or be able to obtain and maintain CMT certification, if applicable.

Training: Must complete, pass, and maintain all Unified Community Connections trainings including, UKG, I-Care Manager, Fundamental Rights and Supporting Choice, PORII/QA/Sexual Harassment-DDA, Bloodborne Pathogens, Communicable Diseases, Sexual Harassment, Workplace Violence, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Introduction to Unified upon hire and on a recurring basis as requested or required.

Physical Demands: While performing the tasks of this position, the employee is required, but not limited to, write, type, stand, walk, sit, bend, kneel, climb, crawl, and use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with arms and hands, balance, lift, stretch, etc. Must be willing to assist with participants needs, including, but not limited to feeding, dressing, toileting, and hygiene assistance. Must be able to utilize proper body mechanics and safe work practices while assisting with transfersof individuals of varying weight and physical needs. Vision abilities required for this position include, near distance, far distance, peripheral vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job tasks.

Work Environment: At Unified we are committed to providing a safe working environment for all employees and to prevent all work related injuries and illnesses. Working in a safe manner is an essential function of this position. Home and office settings with varying degrees of background noise. Light and ventilation as found in typical home or office settings. Employee will frequently be in areas occupied by individuals in UNIFIED’s Residential and Day Programs and must be professional and respect individual’s fundamental rights.

Other: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may be required to perform other related duties as assigned. Unified reserves the right to revise job duties at its discretion. This description does not constitute a contract of employment.